Question

What were the effects of the great reform act of 1832?

Answer 1

The Great Reform Act of 1832 expanded the electorate and initiated a series of political and social reforms, leading to the gradual liberalization of British society despite maintaining power among the nobility.

Step-by-step explanation:

Effects of the Great Reform Act of 1832

The Great Reform Act of 1832 was a significant milestone in British political history. While it granted a greater voice to middle-class men, it didn't lead to complete democracy as the land-owning nobility maintained substantial influence in government and the economy. Nonetheless, this Act set into motion a series of reforms that contributed to a shift towards a more liberal political landscape.

The Act expanded the electorate to include most of the urban middle class, eliminated ‘rotten boroughs’, and instigated further parliamentary reforms. Subsequently, social and economic reforms followed, including the abolition of slavery in British colonies, the installation of free trade laws, and improvements in public health and living conditions.

Despite its limitations, the Great Reform Act emboldened demand for further change, exemplified by the Chartist movement, which ultimately saw many of its demands met in later legislation. These reforms paved the way for the wider social changes of the Victorian era, setting the stage for ongoing progress in public health, education, and workers' rights into the early 20th century.

Answer 2

Answer:

The Great Reform Act of 1832 was an important milestone in the history of British democracy. It had several effects, including:

Expansion of the electorate: The Act increased the number of people who were eligible to vote by around 50 percent, primarily by reducing the property qualifications for voting.

Redistribution of seats: The Act also redistributed parliamentary seats to reflect changes in population and economic development, which meant that some urban areas gained representation while some rural areas lost it.

Weakening of the power of the aristocracy: The Act weakened the power of the landed aristocracy, who previously held significant influence over the electoral process through "rotten boroughs" (small, sparsely populated districts that were heavily represented in parliament).

Strengthening of the middle class: The Act also strengthened the political power of the middle class, who were gaining in wealth and influence during the Industrial Revolution and were increasingly demanding a greater say in government.

Reform movements: The Act inspired other reform movements, such as the campaign for the repeal of the Corn Laws and the Chartist movement, which sought universal suffrage and other political reforms.

The Great Reform Act of 1832 marked an important step toward greater democracy in Britain, even though it did not achieve universal suffrage or fully address issues of social and economic inequality.

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